Rising Pune Supergiant captain Steve Smith today said the team will miss Ben Stokes in the IPL play-offs after they comfortably beat Kings XI Punjab in a do-or-die match here.
In a potential knock-out clash, Pune today defeated Kings XI Punjab by nine wickets to finish second in the points table behind Mumbai Indians, which means they will get two shots for a place in the summit clash.
It was complete domination by the home team, which first skittled out Kings XI Punjab for a paltry 73 and then knocked off the runs in only 12 overs.
"It was a nice day. The bowlers did a terrific job," said Smith.
"We were searching a bit in the first few games. We had new players coming in, we have a good balance now. Really good to finish second and have bites at the cherry. Yeah, we have a couple of options for Stokes. He has been magnificent and will be a big loss. Hopefully, the other guys will stand up for us," he added.
Stokes, the costliest player of IPL who will leave for national duty after today's match, scored 316 runs from 12 games with 103 not out being his highest. With the ball the English all-rounder picked up 12 wickets from as many games.
Smith said toss played a crucial in deciding the outcome of the match.
"We were fortunate to win the toss, the ball was stopping. It was an easy decision today, the wicket was sticky. Shardul (Thakur) was outstanding, (Jaydev) Unadkat again was outstanding," he said.
Kings XI Punjab skipper Glenn Maxwell too agreed with his Australian teammate and said losing the toss didn't augur well for them in the crucial game.
"The toss had something to do with it. The wicket was damp after a few days of rain. It was just about assessing the conditions. Everything went against us and we could not recover. We have lost our last five tosses. Unfortunately in the IPL, a lot can be decided by the toss," he said.
Maxwell said despite failing to qualify for the play-offs there were a lot of positives to take from this edition of the IPL.
"We did not finish last, which was great. The way we played our last four of five games was great. Axar Patel was outstanding with bat, ball, and (in) the field. We will reflect on the positives in the change room. Thanks to the fans for the support," he said.
More than 1,600 officers deployed across London on Saturday
Far-right activist Tommy Robinson to lead "Unite the Kingdom" march
Anti-racism groups to stage counter-protests in Whitehall
Police impose conditions on routes and timings of demonstrations
LONDON police will deploy more than 1,600 officers across the city on Saturday as rival demonstrations take place, including a rally organised by far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, and a counter-protest by anti-racism campaigners.
The "Unite the Kingdom" march, called by Robinson, is due to gather near Waterloo Bridge and head towards the southern end of Whitehall for a rally.
The event, which Robinson has promoted for months, is being billed by him as the "UK's biggest free speech festival." He has urged supporters to join "for freedom, for your children, and for Charlie Kirk," referring to the American conservative activist shot dead this week in Utah.
Robinson added in a message: "Bring your smiles, flags, and patriotic pride. No masks, open alcohol, or violence." He said the event will also feature far-right figures from Europe and North America. Among those expected are French politician Eric Zemmour, Petr Bystron of Germany’s AfD party, commentator Katie Hopkins, and Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson.
Stand Up To Racism will stage a counter-protest at the other end of Whitehall. Organisers have called Robinson’s event "a festival of hate."
Police security measures
The Metropolitan Police said barriers will be in place to keep the two groups apart. Around 1,000 officers will be specifically on duty for the marches, with 500 reinforcements drafted in from other forces. Police have imposed conditions on the routes and timings, requiring both demonstrations to end by the evening.
"We will approach them as we do any other protests, policing without fear or favour, ensuring people can exercise their lawful rights but being robust in dealing with incidents or offences should they occur," said Commander Clair Haynes, who is leading the operation.
The force said the policing plan also takes into account other large events on Saturday, including Premier League football matches and concerts.
Wider political context
A similar rally held by Robinson in July 2024 drew tens of thousands. He has said he expects hundreds of thousands to attend on Saturday.
The demonstration comes after months of tensions in Britain over immigration, freedom of speech, and government restrictions. More than 28,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats this year, with asylum claims reaching record levels.
Last month, the government banned the group Palestine Action, sparking large protests. Nearly 900 people were arrested at a London rally last Saturday against the ban. Critics have also accused authorities of targeting free speech, following the arrest of Irish writer Graham Linehan at Heathrow Airport over online comments. Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded by urging police to focus on "the most serious issues," while Metropolitan Police chief Mark Rowley said laws should be changed so that officers are not "policing toxic culture wars debates."
Robinson’s background
Robinson, 42, has long been active in far-right movements in England. He has a string of criminal convictions but maintains a large online following.
His influence grew after his account on X was reinstated in late 2023 following Elon Musk’s takeover of the platform.
Musk has shared Robinson’s posts and previously called for his release from prison after an 18-month contempt of court sentence in 2023.
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Actor Henry Cavill injured during training before filming began on Highlander.
The remake of the 1986 fantasy-action classic will now start production in 2026.
Cast includes Russell Crowe, Karen Gillan and Dave Bautista.
Film directed by Chad Stahelski for Amazon MGM Studios’ United Artists.
Injury delays production
British actor Henry Cavill has suffered an injury during pre-production training for the remake of Highlander. The incident occurred just days before filming was due to begin, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
As a result, production on the fantasy-action reboot has been pushed back and is now expected to begin in 2026.
Cavill’s career and commitment
Cavill, 42, is best known for playing Superman in Man of Steel, Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’s The Witcher, and Sherlock Holmes in Netflix’s Enola Holmes films.
Speaking at CinemaCon in Las Vegas earlier this year, he described himself as “a lover of the original movies, for better or worse” and said he was training intensively for the role of the immortal Scottish warrior. “If you think you’ve seen me do sword work before, you haven’t seen anything yet,” he told The Hollywood Reporter.
The nature of Cavill’s injury and how it occurred have not been disclosed.
Cast and creative team
The remake is being directed by Chad Stahelski, known for the John Wick series. The cast features Russell Crowe, who previously appeared alongside Cavill in Man of Steel, as well as Karen Gillan, former Doctor Who star, and Dave Bautista, recognised for roles in Dune and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy.
Revisiting a cult classic
The new film revisits the 1986 Highlander, which starred Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery. The story centres on a centuries-old conflict between immortal warriors.
The original film spawned sequels including Highlander II: The Quickening (1991), Highlander III: The Sorcerer (1994), and Highlander: Endgame (2000), as well as a television spin-off series launched in 1992.
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Coldplay light up Wembley with a record 10-night run
Coldplay end their record-breaking 10-night run at Wembley Stadium
The shows are part of their global Music of the Spheres Tour
The tour has now sold over 12 million tickets worldwide
Friday’s show was rescheduled after a transport strike in London
Coldplay have celebrated their record-breaking achievement at Wembley Stadium with a dazzling finale, making headlines as they set a new benchmark for live music. The British band’s 10-night stint marked the longest run of concerts ever at the venue, cementing their legacy while also driving massive global interest in their Wembley Stadium record. The marathon shows form part of their ongoing Music of the Spheres Tour, which has already sold more than 12 million tickets worldwide.
Coldplay light up Wembley with a record 10-night run Instagram/coldplay
How many Wembley Stadium shows did Coldplay play?
Coldplay performed ten consecutive nights at Wembley, setting an unprecedented record at the UK’s largest stadium. The run surpassed previous milestones by artists such as Taylor Swift and Take That. Their run included rescheduled dates after a strike by London transport workers delayed one performance, but fans returned in force for the glittering finale.
Singer Chris Martin thanked fans from the stage, saying, “In return we’re going to play a show fifteen times better than any show we’ve ever played before.” The crowd of over 90,000 sang along to hits like Paradise, The Scientist, and Yellow, creating a sea of LED wristbands and confetti that lit up the stadium.
The concerts combined theatrical spectacle with emotional intimacy, which many fans and critics say set them apart from typical stadium shows. Each performance featured laser lights, giant inflatable planets, raining confetti, and LED wristbands that synchronised with the music to turn the audience into part of the show itself.
Martin frequently acknowledged individual fans, even those high in the top tiers, helping to dismantle the barrier between performer and audience. Venezuelan youth musicians from the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra joined Coldplay onstage, as did Palestinian-Chilean singer Elyanna, who delivered soaring vocals on We Pray.
How successful is Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres Tour?
The Music of the Spheres Tour has become the highest-attended tour in history, with more than 12 million tickets sold globally since it began in 2022. The Wembley shows added to that tally while proving Coldplay’s status as one of the world’s biggest live acts.
Ticket prices ranged from around £60 (₹6,600) for standard seats to over £300 (₹33,000) for premium packages, and all ten nights sold out. The group have confirmed that the tour will continue after a brief hiatus, with Martin hinting on stage that they will resume “somewhere in southern Africa in about 18 months.”
Chris Martin performs on a stop of the band's Music of the Spheres world tour at Allegiant StadiumGetty Images
Who holds the Wembley Stadium record now?
Coldplay now hold the all-time record for the most shows by a single artist at Wembley Stadium, with 16 total performances across their 2022 and 2025 runs. The previous record was held jointly by Taylor Swift and Take That, who each played eight nights.
Chris Martin of Coldplay performs on a stop of the band's Music of the Spheres world tourGetty Images
Their achievement just reinforces the band’s enduring popularity 25 years into their career, showing how they continue to draw new generations of fans. For many, the Wembley residency has, in fact, redefined what a stadium concert can feel like, less about spectacle alone and a lot more about shared joy.
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Friends describe Sarm, 41, as a “free spirit” who embraced adventure
CCTV footage released to the BBC shows Sarm Heslop boarding a dinghy with boyfriend Ryan Bane on the night she vanished.
Six hours later, she was reported missing from his yacht in the US Virgin Islands.
Her body has never been found, and her disappearance remains unsolved.
Police say the timeline provided by Bane is inconsistent with verified CCTV evidence.
Friends and family continue to press for answers, calling for a murder investigation.
The last sighting
Newly released CCTV footage shows British woman Sarm Heslop and her boyfriend Ryan Bane leaving a bar in St John, US Virgin Islands, on 7 March 2021. The couple can be seen boarding a dinghy and motoring into the Caribbean night, heading for Bane’s yacht, Siren Song.
Six hours later, Sarm was reported missing. Despite an extensive search, she has never been found.
Who was Sarm Heslop?
Friends describe Sarm, 41, as a “free spirit” who embraced adventure. A former flight attendant, she left the UK in 2019 to sail across the Atlantic and explore the Caribbean. She later began working as a chef on Bane’s yacht, having met him in 2020.
Timeline inconsistencies
Bane told the US Coast Guard the couple returned to the yacht at 22:00. However, CCTV timestamps confirm they left Cruz Bay dock at 20:45 and would have reached the yacht by 21:00. The missing hour has never been accounted for.
Virgin Islands Police Commissioner Mario Brooks said the timeline raised suspicions and reiterated that Bane remains the only person of interest in the case.
Questions over the response
Bane reported Sarm missing at around 02:00 after claiming to wake and find her gone. Police say they told him to call the Coast Guard immediately, but he waited nine hours before making the call.
Experts stress that minutes are critical in such cases. “Waiting nine hours is decreasing the possibility of finding a person in the water,” said Commander Jan League of the US Coast Guard.
Refusal to cooperate
Bane has declined to be formally questioned by police, invoking his constitutional rights. He also blocked a forensic search of his yacht. Five weeks later, he left the Virgin Islands and has not returned.
Through his lawyer, Bane maintains he had no role in Sarm’s disappearance and believes she either fell overboard or drowned while swimming.
Concerns over past behaviour
Bane’s ex-wife, Cori Stevenson, described a violent assault during their marriage, for which he served a 60-day sentence. She alleged he displayed “rages” that left her fearing for her life.
His lawyer acknowledged the conviction but insisted there was no evidence Bane was violent towards Sarm.
Family’s search for answers
Sarm’s family and friends want the case reclassified as a no-body murder investigation, which they say would allow police greater powers. Her mother Brenda has accepted she may never see her daughter again but continues to push for justice.
“We all deserve to know what happened to her and to bring her home,” she said.
What next?
The US Virgin Islands Police say they remain committed to pursuing all leads, but the case is at a dead end without further evidence.
The BBC documentary Missing in Paradise: Searching for Sarm explores the unanswered questions surrounding her disappearance.
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Through abstract forms, bold colour, and layered compositions
Fragments of Belonging is Nitin Ganatra’s first solo exhibition
Opens Saturday, September 27, at London Art Exchange in Soho Square
Show explores themes of memory, displacement, identity, and reinvention
Runs from 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM, doors open at 3:15 PM
From screen to canvas
Actor Nitin Ganatra, known for his roles in EastEnders, Bride & Prejudice, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, is embarking on a new artistic chapter with his debut solo exhibition.
Titled Fragments of Belonging, the show marks his transition from performance to painting, presenting a deeply personal series of works at the London Art Exchange in Soho Square on September 27.
Exploring memory and identity
Through abstract forms, bold colour, and layered compositions, Ganatra’s paintings reflect themes of memory, displacement, and cultural inheritance. The exhibition has been described as a “visual diary,” with each piece representing fragments of lived experience shaped by migration and reinvention.
What visitors can expect
The exhibition will showcase original paintings alongside Ganatra’s personal reflections on identity and belonging. The London Art Exchange promises an intimate setting in the heart of Soho, where visitors can engage with the artist’s work and connect with fellow creatives, collectors, and fans.
The event runs from 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM on September 27, and is open to all ages.